Toshiba Satellite M35X. How to fix most common laptop problems.
Toshiba Satellite M35X is a very popular model in the United States. In general, most Toshiba Satellite M35X laptops suffer from the same problems. Here’s a disassembly guide.
Improperly grounded top cover assembly. If the top cover assembly wasn’t grounded properly, then laptop may lock up or freeze up when you touch it in the speaker area. It happens because of a static electricity discharge. This problem was fixed on some laptops, but still there are a lot of laptops with unmodified top cover assembly. This problem should be covered under warranty even if you laptop is not under warranty anymore.
Poorly designed DC-IN power jack on the system board. Overtime, the DC power jack gets disconnected from the system board. If it happens, you will experience a problem with charging the battery or the laptop may not start at all.
Read more:
Toshiba Satellite M35X and A75 power jack and battery charge problem.
Toshiba Satellite 1900 laptop looses power and shuts down without warning.
Laptop CPU overheating. It is a very common problem for some Toshiba laptops. If a laptop CPU overheats, then the laptop shuts down without by itself without any reason. Read more:
Why my Toshiba laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning?
You can use the disassembly guide to take apart Toshiba Satellite M35X notebook and repair it yourself. Do not open the case if your laptop is still under warranty.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Thank you for the advice. However the CD-ROM does not eject as well , so I believe I may have bad motherboard.
From the comments it seems that this is a common problem with the M35X-S149.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
wai,
Remove the hard drive and install in into an external USB enclosure. After that connect this USB enclosure to any working computer, access the external hard drive and back up data.
For more information on using external USB enclosure read this article.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
jamal,
Test the laptop with an external monitor. Can you get video on the external monitor?
If both internal and external monitors have no video and new memory stick didn’t fix the problem, most likely you have bad motherboard.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
hi! I had read some comments on the website and it seen like people have the same problem. The website has alot good advises and people are tried to fix the computer themself. Does anybody has any ideas how to extract the informations from the hard drive when the computer is not working or functioning?
Wai
April 21st, 2008 at 5:45 am
Hi guys!
I have a Toshiba Satellite M35X-S149 and I have this problem:
Fan runs about 5 seconds, power stay on , CD-RW don’t eject and nothing show in screen simply dark.
I have 2 memory modules . I tried remove one and try and boot. No change still have the same problem
Please help.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Nice idea Eddie T. I tried something similar with a wedge but with only limited success. Hope you have more luck. It would be great to hear how you get on as I am convinced this problem affects many of these laptops. I have about 5 old motherboards now that don’t work! Most of them I probably fired trying to resolder the tiny pins on the offending chip. Since bought a dell inspiron 6000 as fed up with the Toshiba’s. I always epoxy the jack to the motherboard now on all my laptops to stop this flexing problem with the weak solder connections – so far so good. I also have 2 M30X’s which have been epoxy’d and have worked for over a year so far with no problem. I’d advise anyone who has a successful fix to glue it!!!!
April 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Most of the problems stated here refer to the comments below, after reading this post I decided to try and put pressure on the chip and the computer booted, removing the pressure and no boot. For a temporary (maybe permanent fix I ground a piece of brass to fit on top of the chip and in between the case putting constant pressure on it. I am going to epoxy it in place. If it lasts then great if not then I’ll remove the board and make a permant fix.
see pic:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?765e54423e.jpg
Problem #2 is that after repairing the jack, it still does not boot. The blue power light and fan comes on, nothing else.
What causes this is that some solder joints have broken on a 48 pin chip that is next to the DC jack. That is why it will sometimes bootup if side pressure is applied to the jack. It flexes the motherboard enough so that the broken solder joints make contact, usually temporarily. This is why it is so important to isolate the jack from the motherboard, so the solder joints don’t keep breaking.
This chip has extremely small pin spacing, making it difficult for the average person to solder
April 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Also, when I took the machine apart and checked the power connector, it looks rock solid, doesnt seem broken or cracked to me…..once again, battery power exhibits the same symptoms…..
April 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I’m having the same problem with the blue power light, fan for 5 seconds, no display. How could it be a power jack problem if I have the same problem running off of a fully charged battery, without the machine being plugged in?
March 27th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Hi guys, I have this terrible designed notebook too. I got it from Circuit City in Maryland. I have the same problem described by “frustrated”. I had the extended warranty and had already changed the MB and top cover four times!!! Despite I covered the speakers to not touch them and I use a four fan coolant system too.
Guess what, I just got it from the “garage” and at the first attempt to start it, the notebook died again. The same PCI conflict error while booting and then no booting at all (MS Windows detects the hardware problem and stops). Using OpenSuse 10.3 Live CD I was able to run it and recover my files, but I saw that there is no wireless. Normally the Atheros wireless death is the first symptom, then the booting error and later the motherboard has to be replaced because it just does not start anymore.
I read that not all M35X-S19 but a full series of them have and will always have this problem. Toshiba knows it and does nothing about it. A trial was set against TOSHIBA but they only offered $20 in compensation and an extension on the warranty (same that I payed already). However, the notebook trends to be more time under service than serving you, and once the warranty is over, Toshiba does not accept its responsibility for this terrible design. I was told by the local service that now, I cannot have the MD replaced anymore unless I pay for it… Toshiba should have offered us another model or gave the money back instead of just replacing parts that are known to be defective.
Since Toshiba is doing nothing, is there anybody that has been able to prevent the MB from burning? like by removing the Atheros chip or something like? so maybe we can use an external USB wireless device instead, or something else? what to do with this notebook? should I just take the HDD out and use it inside a box as an external hardrive? I have no idea of how to make some use of the parts of this notebook as it just dies, get replaced the MB, dies again and again and now I have no more warranty to continue the endless toshiba show.
Sorry, I am very upset.
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I’ve had my M35X for a couple of years now, the power connector broke about 6 months after getting it and I never sent it in, I was able to set the power cord in just the right position to get the battery light to come on so just dealt with it.
A few times I took the top off and attempted to solder the top side of the power connector. This only lasted a short time before I had to be adjusting the power cable again.
Thanks to the images in the guide I finally was able to take the motherboard out and bring it into work where I had better equipment (microscopes, solder equipment, appropriate fluxes and wash facilities, heatsink compound etc…) and was able to get that power pin to take solder and get a good solder joint. I could push the pin and see it wiggle in the hole surrounded by solder. I would highly recommend having the right equipment.
We’ll see how long this repair lasts. The next time, I’m taking the connector out and running wires.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:26 am
Well commented that instructions for M35X were wrong but as you noted I am wrong. Best suggestion before complaining RTFI. At any rate fixed my laptop.Thanks for eccellent Info.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:40 am
my lpatopg screen has flipted around so every thing is upside down.please help me what should i do .my model is a toshiba equium a200=15 i
March 18th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Hi Stuart,
Many thanks for your suggestion.
Tried the memory without success so took the bull by the horns and stripped entire system down …
Found some very suspect looking dry joints on motherboard which I have re-soldered …
The main thing that grabbed my attention during dismantling was the ribbon cable for the keyboard wasn’t fully engaged in socket … it was at an angle … don’t know how long its been like that …
Even if bios is set to halt on all faults, that shouldn’t have caused the blank screen …will post further update once re-assembled ..
Thanks again
Dave …….
March 14th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Hi Dave, I would always try the memory first. If you have 2 memory modules remove one and try and boot. Otherwise try a known good memory module to rule out this first. I had the same problem with my Dell Insiron 6000. It sprung into life as soon as I removed one of the memory modules. Cheap fix. If it’s not this then it could be the CPU and possibly the motherboard (expensive).
March 13th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Wonder if there are any Technicians out there who can help me with this one or at least point me in the right direction …..
I have or had till it died last night a : TOSHIBA Satellite S1900 – 305 .
Was using it when it suddenly shut down for no apparent reason .. at first I thought its overheated seems to be a common fault ……..so left it a while …….. switched it back on nothing .
You switch the system on …the green lights on the front panel come on to indicate power .. with the exception of the HDD light ……. the CPU fan runs ……. but it doesn’t even attempt to boot up nor does the screen light up .
You can’t even get the CAPS lock light to come on via the keyboard …… the only keyboard light that does function when pressed is the Function key button Fn ……….
Tried plugging an external monitor in ….. incase the Bios has screwed itself up but nothing …….. even removed the hard drive and put a bootable floppy in to force it to attempt to boot from floppy ……… Again Nothing ……… no attempt at booting ……. no screen lit ……….
I thought if I could get a display either internal or external I could see what state the Bios was in …………
I wouldn’t have thought it likely that the CPU has died …….. or the memory although it may be a possibility ………. I ‘m leaning more to thinking we have a Major problem on the actual Motherboard .
Appreciate any help/comments ..
Thanks in Advance.
Dave
March 10th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Hey Dick,
Click on the image in the step 2 and you’ll see all these screws marked with red circles.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Instructions great for M35X EXCEPT FORGOT TO SAY :
Remove all F5 & F10 screws plus 3 silver ones from the bottom of the laptop before prying off the top.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Is there any extented warranty available on these m35 notebooks? Ours was in for service in Nov. new MB and HD.
Thanks
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I have a m35x-s149 which has had its motherboard changed twice. Again, I am having a problem. Sometimes it will boot all the way thru Windows and then suddenly the screen shuts down. It can happen on start-up or anytime, video shuts down. If I push down on the corner of the motherboard by the dc jack/lid switch the video shuts down. But the dc jack seems fine. It’s almost the same as pushing on the lid switch. Anybody have a similiar problem?
February 13th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Hi guys!
I have a Toshiba Satellite M35X-S214 and I have the same problems like other guys.
Fan runs about 5 seconds, power stay on (sometimes), CD-RW don’t eject and nothing show in screen.
I think the notebook was sent to tech support of Toshiba, becouse the DC Jack hava a black thing around connector, like glue and that static eletric thing already fixed.
I already tested all possible solutions: Memory, connectors, Finally, nothing seems solve the problem! I just noticed that the processor and chipset heat.
Can anyone help me, please???
Sorry my english, it’s very poor, I know
I’m just a desperate Brazilian guy!
Thanks!
February 7th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hey Stuart,
Thank you for your suggestion. I “fix” broken clips the same way.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:36 am
I have broken several of the keyboard clips (Toshiba M30X/M35X) whilst taking these laptops apart. Usually it’s the little retainers on the side that snap. However I have found that if you insert the cable as normal and then put the little white/brown retainer in behind (it’s a bit fiddly) and push down it will usually hold the keyboard cable in place and work fine. You may need to run your finger along the back of it to ensure it is pushed in enough to fully work.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Hi- I have broken a clip installing a keyboard on my Toshiba- I see a few of you have the same problem. What’s it called and how do I replace it??? Thanks in advance.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
hi guys……i have a mx35s329 purchased in december 2004. luckily it hasn’t given any major problems unitl now.
recently i have observed some screen flicker. the screen sometimes blacks out…….but if i press firmly just beside the “control” key on the left side of the laptop the display comes back on. tapping the computer gently on the right palm rest also brings the display back on. i am thinking its some kind of loose connection, but do not know which wire.
there is a problem with the key board too. some of the keys done work. i recently replaced the key board, but broke the clip while inserting the ribbon of the new keyboard. do you guys know if the key board clip can be replaced.
past service history includes a FL inverter replacement and ac adapter replacement.
i have had no problems with respect to heating shut downs, charging the battery, dc connector pin and system crashes.
hope you guys can help out.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:16 am
alll you have to do is format your computer then instal windows again
January 28th, 2008 at 9:01 am
I have a m35x-s114 my wireless won’t work and the sound won’t work either. HElp!!!
January 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
addition to my previous post:
I forgot to mention that my system crashed once a few weeks ago. when i rebooted the computer gave me a blue screen telling me that the system had a major crash. but then it rebooted with no problems.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Im having the same common problem that everybody else is having. First my DC jack needs to be replaced, I will use the disassembly procedure on a website.
But the problem that I have is that my Toshiba M35x-S149 does not boot up. I turn the power on, but the only thing that happens is the power button on (blue color) and the fan spins for about 5 seconds but nothing happens. I have a black screen and it seems that power is not getting to the CD drive, hard drive or the screen.
I took the battery off then reinstalled it but nothing. I will have to try to change memory sticks to see if it is bad.
Please any suggestions would be appreciated.
Umbertp
January 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
My family has several M35′s — Lucky us. Thanks to this site I have been able to fix the charging problems. But, about six months ago my daughters was repaired under warranty. She just told me it stopped working again. No warranty. I resoldered but no good. Getting voltage on top and bottom. I would like to solder a jumper wire from center pin to motherboard. What location would I solder to?
Thanks